Walker-Barrett tilt foremost in today's recall races

Jun. 5, 2012

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Green Bay Press-Gazette

What to know

» Voting hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.» How to find your polling place: Go to https://vpa.wi.gov and follow the instructions.» To see a sample ballot: Go to www.co.brown.wi.us, click "Quick Links" (lower right), scroll down and select "Election Information."» If you recently registered by mail, or plan to register at the polling place: Bring proof of address, such as a driver's license, or a utility bill. However, you are not required to produce a photo ID.» What to do if you believe there is a problem at the polls: Speak with the head election inspector at your polling place. If the issue continues, call the clerk of your city, town or village.» If you have questions related to your right to vote: Contact the Wisconsin Election Protection hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE or on Twitter at @EPWisco or on Facebook. For questions in Spanish, call the ACLU of Wisconsin at (414) 301-2256.— Press-Gazette

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Almost two-thirds of Wisconsin's voting-age residents are expected to vote in a historic recall election today, with turnout potentially higher in some areas of the state.

The polls opened at 7 a.m. Municipal clerks in Northeastern Wisconsin are predicting a heavy turnout not typically seen outside of presidential elections. About four of every five registered voters in Brown County is expected to cast a ballot, said Deputy County Clerk Sandy Juno.

"We expect a turnout of 78 to 80 percent of registered voters," she said. The county had 137,912 registered voters as of Monday morning.

The recall pits Republican Gov. Scott Walker against Democrat Tom Barrett in a rematch of the 2010 general election; the winner will complete the term. Candidates made last-minute campaign swings this week, with Walker stopping at a rally Monday at the Green Bay Distillery in Ashwaubenon and visiting Ace Marine at 10 a.m. today.

Voters also will cast ballots for candidates for lieutenant governor — Republican incumbent Rebecca Kleefisch faces a challenge from Democrat Mahlon Mitchell — and in state Senate districts 13, 21, 23 and 29.

Public Policy Polling on Sunday said Walker led Barrett by 50 to 47 percent, a narrower margin than in a PPP poll issued three weeks earlier. The poll found Barrett led Walker among independent voters, but that Republicans were more excited about voting than were Democrats.

The Government Accountability Board predicts 60 to 65 percent of Wisconsin's 4.3 million voting-age residents will cast ballots in the recall election, though director Kevin Kennedy warned that the rarity of the recall election makes predicting turnout difficult. The highest percentage turnout for a gubernatorial election was 52.4 percent in 1962.

Slightly less than half of voting-age Wisconsinites voted in the 2010 Walker-Barrett race.

Interest leading up to the election has been heavy, prompting Brown County municipalities to order more than the usual number of ballots from the county's printing center. Brown County issued about 15,500 absentee ballots, Juno said.

The actual number of ballots issued is probably much higher. Only a third of clerks use the tracking software and they'll keep adding data beyond the election.

In De Pere, staff at the city clerk's office set up an extra room to process ballots cast by early voters, said City Clerk Shana Defnet.

"Thursday and Friday were really busy," Defnet said. "There was a constant line" of people who wanted to cast ballots.

The city ordered ballots to handle an anticipated turnout of 80 percent, she said.

In Green Bay, almost 90 percent of the 4,168 early ballots issued had been returned as of Monday morning, said City Clerk Kris Teske. She predicted a turnout of about 65 percent of city voters for the recall.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than today, and received by 4 p.m. Friday.